The AMX-30 is a French main battle tank developed by GIAT Industries (now Nexter Systems, KNDS) for the French Army. Designed during the Cold War era, it prioritized firepower and mobility over heavy armor, reflecting France's unique doctrinal approach to armored warfare.
Country users: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, France, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela.
Technical Data
-
Armament
The AMX-30's primary weapon is a French CN-105-F1 105mm rifled gun, capable of firing a wide array of NATO-standard ammunition. The gun is distinguished by its high muzzle velocity and thermal sleeve. It typically uses HEAT (High-Explosive Anti-Tank), APFSDS (Armor-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot), and smoke rounds, among others. The effective firing range is approximately 3,000 meters with HEAT, while kinetic rounds offer a similar range with higher penetration.
Secondary armament includes a coaxial 12.7mm M2 Browning machine gun and a 7.62mm anti-aircraft machine gun mounted on the commander’s cupola. Smoke dischargers are fitted on the turret sides for defensive countermeasures.
-
Design and protection
The AMX-30's design emphasizes a low profile and compact dimensions. It features a conventional layout: the driver is positioned at the front-left of the hull, the turret houses the commander, gunner, and loader. The engine is located at the rear of the vehicle.
The tank’s armor uses rolled homogeneous steel, designed primarily to resist medium-caliber projectiles and HEAT rounds. At its thickest, the front glacis plate measures about 79mm, sloped at 70 degrees, offering effective protection without significantly increasing weight. This allowed for better agility but at the expense of survivability against modern anti-tank weapons.
Its combat weight is approximately 36 metric tons—relatively light for a main battle tank—which enhances its cross-country performance and reduces logistical constraints.
-
Mobility
The AMX-30 is powered by a Hispano-Suiza HS-110 diesel engine delivering 720 horsepower at 2,600 rpm. This engine enables a maximum road speed of 65 km/h and a cruising range of around 600 km with external fuel tanks. Its power-to-weight ratio is about 20 hp/ton, contributing to its impressive battlefield mobility.
Suspension is of the torsion bar type with five dual rubber-tired road wheels on each side, supported by hydraulic shock absorbers. The design allows for good stability and ride quality over varied terrain, including rugged and desert environments.
Its low weight means it can cross a wider range of bridges and be transported by more types of tactical and strategic transporters, enhancing operational flexibility.
-
Combat Equipment
The AMX-30 is equipped with a basic fire control system for its era, including a coincidence rangefinder, ballistic computer, and gun stabilization in later variants. While early versions lacked thermal imaging, upgrades like the AMX-30B2 included modernized fire control with laser rangefinders and passive night vision systems.
Protection systems include an NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) overpressure and filtration suite to ensure crew survivability in contaminated environments. Automatic fire extinguishers are installed in both the crew compartment and engine bay.
Later modifications and upgrades added improvements like digital fire control systems, reinforced armor packages, and better communication equipment, extending the AMX-30's service life into the early 21st century in some foreign armies.
Photo Gallery
